Blank feeding mechanism



AUS- 6, 1935- E. B. BERKowlTz y 2,010,344

BLANK FEEDING MECHANISM ATTORNEY E. B. BERKowlTz 2,010,344

BLANK FEEDING MECHANI SM Aug. 6, 1935.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 'Filed-Aug. 13'V 1934 l INVENTOR ATTORN EY Aus. 6, 1935. E. B. BERKOWITZ f 2,010,344

BLANK FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Aug. l5, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 I INVENTOR [age/le erow/z BY I ATTORNEY Patented Aug. l 6, 1935 UNITED stares "eA-TENT OFFICE@ BLANK FEEDNG MECHANISM Eugene B. Berkowitz, Kansas City, Mo.

Application August 13,

1934, serial No. 739,600

1s claims. (ci. 2712-1) VThis invention relates to blank feeding mchanisms/andrnore particularly to those of that character forV f eeding blanks into -an envelope forming machine, the present invention being directed to improvements in a similar feeding device disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 1,646,230,iissued to me on October 18, 1927.

`Feeding devices of'the type illustrated in said Letters Patent operate successfully in delivering plain blanks, but when the blanks carry printed matter on the faces thereof, or are of the open window typeythe feeding mechanism tends to smear the printing, or wrinkle the blanks so that the 'envelopes -produced therefrom do not have the' desired appearance.`

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to effect feed of the blanks so thatthey are 'not defaced by the feeding mechanism and to relieve the pressure of the stack upon the lowerrnost blank while it is being separated therefrom and delivered `into the` envelope Vforming machine. f r

In accomplishing these' and other objects of the invention, as hereinafter pointed out, I have provided improved detailsof structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, wherein: i

Fig. l is' a plan View of a portion of an envelope forming machine equipped with the blank feeding mechanism embodying the features of the present invention. Y i

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section on the line 2 2, of Fig. ll. l

Fig. 3 is a side' elevation,` particularly illustrating the driving mechanism forl the blank feeding means. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective View of a stack of blanks shown in relation to the supporting disks and the vacuum nozzle in engaging relation with the lowermost blank in the stack to permit entrance of theA separator for supporting the weight of the 4remaining blanks in the stack from the blank being removed.

Fig. 5 is a similar view'showing the disks in the act of separating the blank being withdrawn from the stack. l i v Fig. 6 is a similar View showing the disks moving intoposition for again supporting the stack while the separator member is moving out of supportingrelationwith the stack and the nozzle is moving intopositionfor engaging the next lowermost blank in the stack.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail section through one" of the disks particularly illustrating the driving gear therefor and the rollers von the stack supporting portion of the disk whichl prevent smearing `of printing on the face of thefblanks. Fig. 8 is an enlarged perspective View of one ofthe disks as viewed from above or the stack supporting side thereof. Y Y: 9 is a similar perspective View` of one of the disks asviewed from beneath. Referring more in detail to the drawings:.; i l and 2 designate the side frames of `an envelope forming machine of the type wherein individual blanks are successively. fed into the: machine to be acted upon by a forming mechanism to convert the blanks into finished envelopes. Connecting the side frames l and 2at the feeding end of the machine are spaced transverse bars 3, 4, 5 .and 6 arranged at an inclinedangle as shownV in Figs. 2 and 3 to support a stack of blanks in angular relation to the `blankforward-y ing mechanism of the envelope machine,as indicated bythe pressurerollers 'l and `conveyor belt. i Fixed to the lowermost bar 6 at apointmid-` way between the side frames l vand 2 is aplate S'extending upwardly toward the conveyor belt 8 and having its upper end l0 terminating in substantially the horizont r,l plane of the blank forwarding means. Thevend; l0 of the plate 9 is supported from the bari by meansof` a stud ll fixed to the under side thereof and extending through an opening i2 in the bar. i on the 'stud H and engaging opposite vsides of the bar are nuts i3 and I4 whereby the end of .the plate is adjustably positioned relatively to a stack of blanks l5 that is, at times, supportedupon the upper run IS of belts Il and IB, which operate over the plate 9, the belts l1 and I8 being spacedapart and running over pairs of pulleys l 9 and 2O that are carried on shafts2l and "22 having their ends rotatably mounted -in the side frames l and 2. l f The shaft 22 carrying .thepulleys 2U is 'rotated by a gear 23 .thereonmeshing with, agear 24 thatis ,rotatably mounted on one of a pair of spaced stub shafts 25 extending inwardly from the side frames l and 2. The stub shafts are driven by sprockets 26 a counter-shaft 21 by a chain 28 operating over the sprockets 26 and-aligning sprockets 2B on the stub shafts 25, the ends of the counterl shaft being rotatably mounted in the side frames l and 2 at a point below the conveyor shaft 22.

The counter-shaft 21 is driven by afgear-,SU thereon which meshes with a gear 3| keyed toan operating shaft 32 of the envelope machine so that the countershaft is driven in timedrelation Threaded nected with a lever with the blank forwarding means of the envelope machine which includes the conveyor belt I8 and the forwarding rollers 1.

The stack of envelope blanks 5 is supported in position over the belts |1 and I8 by standards 33 and 34 which are adjustably carried on the bar 6 by means of arms 35 and 3S fixed to the lower ends of the standards and which have slots 31 for passing the bolt 38 by which the arms are secured to the cross bar 6. The arms 35 and 36 are adapted to move radially on the bolts 38 and slidably thereon to position the standards 33 so that they will lie within the angle of the end and sealing flaps of the envelope, as indicated at 39 and 40, respectively.

Extending inwardly of the side frames and 2r adjacent the opposite side of the end flaps are inwardly extending rods 4| and 42 carrying heads 43 and 44 for mounting slotted arms 45 and 46 having depending pins 41 and 48 engaging in the angle between the end flaps and the opposite sealing flap 49 ysimilarly to the standards 33 and 34.

The stack .of envelope blanks is thus supported .against shifting movement relatively to the belts |1 and |8, but the ends of the rods 41 and 48, terminating adjacent the bottom of the stack, permit the lowermost blank to be withdrawn as hereinafter described.

In order to intermittently support the stack out of contact with the belts I1 and I8, I provide a cross shaft 50 shaft, the end thereof that is mounted in the frame 2 carries a rocker arm 55 that is con- 56 slidably mounted on the side frame and carrying acam follower 51 engaging against a cam 58 on the end of the counter shaft 21, the cam follower being retained against the cam by a spring 59 having one end xed to a pin 60 on the rock lever and its other end to the frame 2, as best illustrated in Fig. 3.

Cooperating with the rollers 53 and 54 in supporting the stack are laterally spaced disks (il and 62 fixed to the lower ends of shafts 63 and 64 that are rotatably mounted in bearing brackets 65 and 66 adjustably secured to the cross bar 4 by bolts 61 projecting through the brackets and through sl-ots 68 of the bar 4 whereby the brackets carrying the disks may be moved to and from the conveyor belts l1 and l0 for adjustment when blanks of different widths are run through the machine. Also carried by the brackets 65 and 66 are the inner ends of horizontally arranged shafts 69 and 10 having bevelled gears 1| and 12 thereon meshing with bevelled gears 13 and 14 on the disk shafts 63 and 64. The outer ends of the shafts 69 and 10 are rotatably mounted in bearings 15 on the side frames and 2 and carry gears 1S that are driven from gears 11 fixed to the outer ends of the shafts through idler gears 18 mounted on stub shaft 19, as best shown in Fig. 3.

It is thus apparent that the disks are rotatably mounted for movement under the stack of blanks in timed relation with swinging movement of the rollers 53 and 54 from the common since they are both operated counter shaft 21.

82 that are secured to the web portion by screws B3.

The upper face of the web portions of the disks include segment-al circular tracks 84 having rounded ends 85 and 86 spaced apart to form bottom flap of the rollers 53 and 54 to contact the lowermost blank with the conveyor belts |1 and I8 The rollers @il are rotatably mounted in the slots 9| on shafts 92 having ends 93 that are secured to the under side of the disks 6| and 62, as shown in Fig. 9. i

The opposite end 85 of the track is reduced in thickness to form an entering edge for readily permitting its pass-age over the lower blank to separate it from the other blanks when the stack is raised from contact with the conveyor belts, as later described.

To support the front of the stack of blanks while the rear of the stack is being supported by the rollers, I provide an arm 94 having a pointed separator 05 on its lower end which is adapted to be projected under the stack when the arm is moved toward the stack, as shown in Fig. 2.

The arm 94 is carried on able in a base 91 carried which is rotatably mounted in bearing brackets |02 and |03 carried by the bar 4. The shaft |0| carries an arm |04 having a roller |05 engaging a cam |05 on the shaft 10 whereby the shaft |0| is rocked to reciprocate the arm 94 to and from engagement with the stack.

Also carried by the base 91 is an upwardly extending bracket arm |01 to which is pivoted a depending lever |08 that is adapted to be held in engagement with the stack by means of a set screw |09 which is threaded through the bracket arm |01 and engages against the rear of the lever arm. The lever arm is retained against the end of the set screw by a coiled spring ||0 having one end fixed to the lever arm and its opposite end extending through an opening in the bracket arm and secured to a hook 2 projecting laterally from the opposite side of the bracket arm.

The lower portionof the lever arm which engages the stack is provi-ded with teeth or prongs H3 for engagingly supporting the upper blanks in the stack to relieve pressure thereof on the lower blanks.

A vacuum nozzle H4 is provided for engaging the lower bl-ank in the stack to bend the flap downwardly through the throats formed in the .disks at the time the stack supporting portions of the disks are moving under the stack as now to be described.

Extending across theside frames I and 2 at a point below the cross bar 3 is a rock shaft ||5 carrying the vacuum nozzle I I4 which is adapted to be 'swung to and from engagement with the apex of the bottom flap of the lower blank to carry the flap into position to be engaged by drawing in fingers |l6 that are fixed to cranks I1 leccentrically mounted on the ends of the stub shafts. When engaged by the ngers IIE, the blank is moved into driving contact with the belts I'| and |8 at the point where they move across the pulleys 20.

In order to permit easy entrance of the separator point of the arm 94 between the lowermost blank and the blanks remaining in the stack, the vacuum nozzle is provided with a concavity into which the flap of the lowermost blank is drawn which leaves an opening so th-at the separator can enter therethrough to engage the bottom of the stack and support it while the nozzle is carrying the lowest blank into position to be engaged by the pins.

The vacuum nozzle shaft is rocked by a cam I I8 xed to the outer end of the counter shaft 21 and which engages a roller IIS on a connecting link |29 having its upper end xed to a laterally extending arm |2| on the end of the shaft ||5, the lower end of the arm |20 being provi-ded with a yoke |22 which enga-ges over the shaft 21 to form a guide. The roller ||9 is retained in contact with the cam ||8 by means of a spring having one end fixed to the lever arm |2| and its opposite end to a pin extending from the side frame 2, yas best shown in Fig.' 3.

In operating a'machine constructed and assembled as described, a stack of blanks is supported over the belts I1 and |8V so that the bottom flaps thereof lie directly in the path of movement of the vacuum nozzle.

When the machine is started, the disks rotate under the stack to alternately support the stack and to eiect separation of the blank being moved by the nozzle.

The machine is so timed that while the stacksupporting portion of the disks which carry the rollers is in contact with the under side of the stack, the nozzle is moved into engaging position with the lowermost blank in the stack. When the vacuum nozzle engages the blank, the apex of the bottom flap is drawn within the concavity of the nozzle to permit ready engagement of the separator point of the arm 94 to support the other blanks in the stack whileV the nozzleV is drawing the ap of the bottom (blank in the direction of the conveyor belts I1 and I8.

When the last roller 90 is moving under the stack, the vacuum nozzle begins to move downwardly to carry the bottom flap of theflowerblank through the throat portion of the disks. Continued rotation of the disks carry the ends thereof into separating relation with the stack. At this time the cam 59 actuatesl the lever arm 55 to rock the shaft 50 to move the rollers 53 and 54 upwardly into supporting relation with the stack and raise it out of contact with the separating portion of the disks.

By this time the drawing-in fingers ||6 have engaged the nap which has been withdrawn by the nozzle to remove the blank from the nozzle and carry it into contact with the belts I1 and I8 at the point where the belts move over the pulleys 20. During this movement of the blank being withdrawn, the stack supporting lportion of the disks are again moving into supporting relation with the bottom of the stack and the vacuum nozzle has returned to engage the next blank. Y

As soon as the disks are in supporting relation with the bottom of the stack, the arm 94 carrying the pointed separator has been moved out of engagement with the stack to effect engagement o'f the lowermost blank remaining in the stack by the nozzle. Simultaneously, the rollers53 and 54 have been lowered out of contact with thebottom of the stack to permit the rear portion with the partly withdrawn blank to contact with the conveyor belts I1 and I8. The withdrawn blank is then moved by the conveyor` belts to the blank-forming mechanism of the envelope machine (not shown).

The remaining blanks in the stack are fed consecutively into the blank forwarding means in the same manner as the blank just described.

From the foregoing it is apparent that I have provided a feeding arrangement whereby the separating and stack supporting disks do not move in wiping contact with the bottom of the stack because the rollers therein engage the stack and roll over the printed surface thereof so that they do not smear the ink or wrinkle the blanks, particularly if the blanks being run through the machine are provided with window openings.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patents:

l. In a device of the character described, means for retaining a stack of blanks, means for intermittently supporting the stack of blanks in said retaining means, means for supporting the stack during the intervals between support by said first named means, and anti-friction members on sail first named supporting means for contacting the 'stackto prevent smearing of printed matter on the blanks.

2. In a device of the character described, means for retaining a stack of blanks, rotary means for intermittently supporting the lstack of blanks in said yretaining means, means movable Ato and from the stack for supporting the stack during the intervals between support by said rotary means,

and rollers on said rotary means for contacting I the stack to prevent smearing of printed matter on the blanks'.

3. In a device of the character described, guide means for retaining a stack of blanks, a rotary member mounted under the stack having a stacksupporting portion and a separating portion to alternately support the stack and separate the lowermost blank in the stack, means independent of said supporting portion for supporting the stack while the lowermost blank is being sepportion, and means arated by said separating for rolling contact on said supporting portion with the stack.

Il. In a device of the character described, guide means for a stack of blanks, rotary members mounted under the ,stack having stack supporting portions and separating portions to alternately support the stack and separate the lowermost blank in the stack, rollers on said supporting portions for rolling contact with the stack, and a second supporting means operating in synchronism with the rotary members while said separating portions are effective.

5. In a device of the character described, guide means for retaining a stack of blanks, rotary members mounted under the stack having stack supporting portions and separating portions to alternately support the stack and separate the lowermost blanks in the stack, rollers on said supporting portions for rolling contact with the stack,

means for engaging a portion of the lowermost blank to carry said portion of the blank away from the stack to permit entrance of said separating portions therebetween, and supplementary means for supporting the stack while supporting portions of the rotary members are out of supporting relation with the stack.

6. In a device of the character described, guide means for retaining a stack of blanks, rotary members mounted under the stack having stack supporting portions and separating portions to alternately support the stack and separate the lowermost blanks in the stack, rollers on said supporting portions for rolling contact with the stack, a suction nozzle for engaging a portion of the lowermost blank, means movably supporting the nozzle to carry saidV portion of the blank away from the stack to permit entrance of said. separating portions of the rotary members therebetween, and supplementary means for supporting the stack while supporting portions of the rotary members are out of supporting relation with the stack.

7. In a device of the character described, a supporting frame, guide means on the frame for retaining a stack of blanks, primary and -secondary means for alternately supporting the blanks in the guide means, blank separating means cooperating with one of the supporting means, means for engaging the lower blank in the stack to permit entrance of said separating means, means carried by the frame for removing the separated blank, and means for alternately rendering said supporting means effective in supporting the stack.

8. In a device of the character described, a supporting frame, guide means on the frame for retaining a stack of blanks, primary and secondary means for supporting the blanks in the guide means, means for successively removing the lowermost blank from the stack, and means operating in synchronism with said removing means for alternately rendering said supporting means efiective in supporting the stack.

9. In a device of the character described, guide means for retaining a stack of blanks, rotary members mounted under the stack having stack supporting portions and separating portions to alternately support the stack and separate the lowermost blanks in the stack, a suction nozzle for engaging a portion of the lowermost blank, means movably supporting the nozzle torcarry sai-d portion of the blank away from the stack to permit entrance of said separating portions of the rotary members therebetween, supplementary means for supporting the stack while supporting portions of the rotary members are out of supporting relation with the stack, and means movable in synchronism with the suction nozzle to support said portions of the blanks remaining in the stack.

10. In a device of the character described,

guide means for retaining a stack of blanks, rotary members mounted under the stack having stack supporting portions and separating portions to alternately support the stack and separate the lowermost blanks in the stack, rollers on said supporting Vportions for rolling Contact with the stack, a suction nozzle for engaging a portion of the lowermost blank, means movably supporting the nozzle to carry said portion of the blank away from the stack to permit entrance of said separating portions of the rotary members therebetween, supplementary means for supporting the stack while supporting portions of the rotary members are out of supporting relation with the stack, and means movable in synchronism with the suction nozzle to support said portions of the blanks remaining in the stack.

11. In a device of the character described, guide means for retaining a stack of blanks, rotary members mounted under the stack to alternately support the stack, rollers on said rotary members for rolling contact with the stack, a suction nozzle for engaging a portion of the lowermost blank, means movably supporting the nozzle to carry said portion of the blank away from the stack, supplementary means for supporting the stack while supporting rotary members are out of supporting relation with the stack, and means cooperating with the nozzle to complete the removal of the blank.

12. In a device of the character described, a supporting frame, means on the frame for retaining a stack of blanks, primary means for intermittently supporting the stack of blanks in said retaining means, means for actuating said primary supporting means, a shaft mounted in said frame, arms on said shaft, rollers on the shaft and adapte-d to engage the stack, and means for rocking the shaft to move said rollers to and from the stack in timed relation with said pri- -mary supporting means whereby the stack is supported on said rollers during the intervals between support by said primary supporting means.

13. In a device-of the character described, a supporting frame, means on the frame for retaining a stack of blanks; primary means for intermittently supporting the stack of blanks in said retaining means, means for actuating said primary supporting means, a shaft mounted in said frame, arms on said shaft, rollers on the shaft and adapted to engage the stack, means for rocking the shaft to move said rollers to and from the stack in timed relation with said primarysupporting means whereby the stack is supported on said rollers during the intervals between support by said primary supporting means, and anti-friction members on said primary supporting means for contacting the stack to prevent smearing of printed matter on the blanks when the stack is supported by said primary supporting means.

. EUGENE B. BERKOWITZ. 

